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Introduction

Imagine a life without computer and networks!

In the world we live in, it is impossible to escape technology. Meanwhile, Information Technology (IT) is the foundation for today’s living.

However, the same thing that can benefit us can also hurt us, unless we learn how to protect ourselves against cyber dangers.

How dangerous can cyber threats be?

Different aspects of using the internet and social networks have resulted in the replacement of traditional communication methods with electronic tools, which deliver mail, audio, images and documents in just a minute.

Despite the many advantages of electronic services, they have also created new risks – including security threats against our information.

Sometimes that information has priceless value and we never realize the value before losing them.

Here, there is an opportunity to learn more about some of the security threats.

Every day we read a lot of news about information having been stolen, including even top-secret political or financial information.

According to the information revealed by Edward Snowden, a former employee of the CIA, a black budget of $52.6 billion was set aside for US spy operations just in 2013. Among the biggest priorities for the intelligence community, are “Offensive Cyber Operations” and research devoted to decoding encrypted communications.

It shows the importance of cybersecurity indeed. In addition, a massive cyber war is going on in the world – aside from the spying tools surrounding us – which can be harmful in our lives and in business. Following are some incidents that can explain further.

Some real incidents

Snowden says Israel, U.S. Created Stuxnet Virus that Attacked Iran

(Haaretz, 9 July 2013)

Whistleblower Edward Snowden told a German magazine that Israel and the United States created the Stuxnet computer virus that destroyed nuclear centrifuges in Iran.

Stuxnet in 2010 wrought havoc on equipment at Iran’s Natanz nuclear plant and complicated the manufacture of highly enriched uranium, which the West suspects is intended for making atomic weapons.

The virus temporarily disabled 1,000 centrifuges being used by the Iranians to enrich uranium.

Snowden, a former technical contractor for the NSA and employee of the CIA, last month revealed the existence of mass surveillance programs by the United States and Britain against their own citizens and citizens of other countries.

Cyber-attack Could Cost Sony Studio as Much as $100 million

(Reuters, 9 December 2014)

Sony Corp’s movie studio could face tens of millions of dollars in costs from the massive computer hack that hobbled its operations and exposed sensitive data, according to Cyber-Security experts who have studied past breaches.

The tab will be less than the $171 million Sony estimated for the breach of its PlayStation Network in 2011 because it does not appear to involve customer data, the experts said.

Mark Rasch, a former federal cybercrimes prosecutor, said: Losses in that range would not mean a big financial setback to Sony Pictures Entertainment. However, other effects, such as the loss of trade secrets, will be difficult to measure. Hackers have released the proof of documents that include contracts and marketing plans that could influence competitors’ strategies.

Malware Implicated in Fatal Plane Crash

(NBC news, 20 August 2010)

Computer monitoring system was infected with Trojan horse, authorities say!

Authorities investigating the 2008 crash of Spanair flight 5022 have discovered a central computer system used to monitor technical problems in the aircraft was infected with malware. An internal report issued by the airline revealed the infected computer failed to detect three technical problems with the aircraft, which if detected, may have prevented the plane from taking off, according to reports in the Spanish newspaper, El Pais.

Flight 5022 crashed just after takeoff from Madrid-Barajas International Airport two years ago today, killing 154 and leaving only 18 survivors.

Bank Customer Data Sold on eBay

(BBC news, 26 August 2008)

Andrew Chapman with the hard disk drive he bought on eBay

An investigation is under way into how a computer containing bank customers’ personal data was sold on eBay. The computer, bought by IT manager Andrew Chapman for £77, had the sensitive details on its hard drive. Mr. Chapman, from Oxford, said the machine contained information on several million bank customers. Details of customers of three companies, including the Royal Bank of Scotland (RBS) and its subsidiary, NatWest, were involved. RBS said an archiving firm told it the computer had been “inappropriately sold via a third party”.